Lango Paramount Chief Urges Diaspora to Invest in Homeland Development

Eng Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, the Paramount Chief of Lango, has issued a strong appeal to the Lango diaspora to channel their investments back home. Speaking to the Lango Association in the United Kingdom, Dr. Okune highlighted the persistent challenges of poverty and inadequate access to social services within the Lango community, despite government efforts.

His visit to London marked his first foreign trip since assuming the role of Paramount Chief in March 2024. Dr. Okune emphasized that investments in health, education, and agro-processing are crucial for transforming the Lango sub-region and bringing its people into the formal economy. He noted that while subsistence agriculture is widespread, it could become significantly more productive with proper support, thereby boosting Uganda’s overall economic growth.

The Paramount Chief also addressed the low uptake of government programs like the Parish Development Model, attributing it to internal disputes. He outlined the Lango Cultural Institution’s plans to revitalize cultural heritage, promote traditional practices, and establish alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Additionally, initiatives such as scholarships for underprivileged children, family reconciliation, asset recovery, palace construction, and the formation of a business arm, the Amuka Corporation Group, are underway.

Dr. Okune stressed the importance of unity, warning that internal divisions weaken the Lango clans and their cultural institution. The Lango community in the UK, represented by chairperson Geoffrey Odur Akaki, expressed their desire for unity and cultural preservation. They acknowledged government development strides, including the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, and urged the Paramount Chief to advocate for pending industrial parks to foster local economic empowerment.

Discussions also touched upon concerns like teenage pregnancy and the need for protection against sexual exploitation. Opportunities for growth were identified in areas such as cultural market days, heritage films, and promoting Lango-produced exports like shea and honey through women-led businesses and trade initiatives. This collaborative approach aims to harness the diaspora’s potential for tangible development in the Lango region.